Effects of climate change variables on under-five child stunting in Bangladesh

Abstract

This research paper explores the impact of geospatial variables and sociodemographic factors on child stunting in Bangladesh, using data from the 2014 wave of BDHS (Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey) and climate data from Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) spanning 2009 to 2013. It was found that the average age of children under 5 in the sample is approximately 29 months (about 2 and a half years), with mean weights and heights slightly below the expected values. The climate data indicates that Bangladesh experiences mean maximum temperatures of over 34°C and mean minimum temperatures of around 21°C, with a relatively high average relative humidity of 79%. Rainfall averages 738.6 mm (about 2.42 ft) across divisions with low variability. Visual analysis shows that temperature has a limited impact on children's height, while higher relative humidity and rainfall are linked to height stunting. Regression analysis confirms these findings, revealing that increased relative humidity negatively affects the Height-for-Age Z-Score (HAZ) by nearly 2 percent, while rainfall has a minimal to no impact on HAZ. Male children have a 12 percent higher HAZ, and higher parental education and family wealth positively influence children's HAZ scores. These results contribute to our understanding of the factors influencing child stunting in Bangladesh and emphasize the importance of addressing both climate-related variables and sociodemographic factors to improve children's nutritional outcomes.